SWAT: District police officer Mohammad Umar Khan on 23rd July announced the arrest of 11 individuals, including administrator of an unregistered seminary, in connection with the brutal killing of a 12-year-old student and the systematic abuse of children at the institution located in the Chaliyar area of Khwazakhela here.
Addressing a press conference at his office in Saidu Sharif alongside SP investigations Badshah Hazrat Khan, the DPO confirmed that two main suspects remained at large and that police were conducting raids to arrest them.
The case surfaced on July 21 when the body of a young student, a resident of Pia Fatehpur, was brought to Khwazakhela Hospital bearing clear signs of torture. Police acted swiftly, registered a murder case following a complaint lodged by the deceased’s uncle, Sadr Ayaz.
The FIR named the seminary’s head Qari Mohammad Umar, his son Ehsanullah, administrator Abdullah, and a teacher, identified as Bakht Ameen. Police have so far arrested Abdullah and Ameen, while efforts are ongoing to arrest Umar and his son.
Further investigations uncovered evidence of abuse against other students, leading to a separate case and the arrest of nine additional teachers.
DPO Umar Khan confirmed that the seminary, which housed around 160 students, was operating without registration.
It has since been sealed by the Khwazakhela assistant commissioner, and all students have been returned to their families.
He also stated that a district-wide survey of unregistered seminaries was currently underway, with a commitment to taking strict legal action against any institution found to be operating unlawfully.
In a related incident, two individuals – Mohammad Rehman and Abdul Salam – were arrested under the Child Protection Act in Gulkada, where another case of child abuse was reported at a different seminary.
DPO Umar Khan stressed that “no one is above the law” and that violence and cruelty against children will not be tolerated. “All those involved will be brought to justice in accordance with the law,” he asserted.
At the same press conference, Bakhtmand Khan, the grandfather of the deceased student, emotionally recounted the tragic events leading up to the student’s death. “My grandson had returned home on leave to attend his aunt’s wedding,” he said. “After the wedding, he didn’t want to go back to the Madressah. He kept telling us the teachers would abuse him, but we didn’t believe him and sent him back. Just a few hours after his return, we received a call from the Madressah saying he had died in the toilet.”
In response to the horrific incident, civil society members and youth activists blocked the main Mingora-Kalam-Matta Road, demanding the immediate arrest of the absconding seminary owner. The protest, led by Ghairat Yousafzai, drew attention from across the district. Demonstrators vowed to continue the sit-in until the key suspect was in custody.
The protest ended temporarily after the assistant commissioner of Khwazakhela assured the demonstrators that police were close to capturing the culprits.
Mazhar Azad, a civil society member, confirmed that the protesters had set an ultimatum for Friday noon, warning that if the main suspect was not arrested by then, the sit-in would resume.
Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2025
